Lautenberg Upstaged

By

Allysia Finley

Jan. 15, 2013 12:40 p.m. ET

Politicians, like most people, prefer to retire on their own terms and don't like to be forced out before they're good and ready. Which explains why New Jersey's 88-year-old senator, Frank Lautenberg, isn't taking too well to the news that Newark Mayor Cory Booker aims to supplant him on Capitol Hill in 2015.

The Democratic upstart dropped the bombshell two weeks ago without having discussed with the senator his retirement plans. Presumptuous perhaps, but then again, Mr. Lautenberg hasn't exactly been eager to talk....